Check out our online exhibition of images and stories relating to the development of Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove and Mosman Park. For more history resources visit: www.thegrovelibrary.net and view the Community History tab or search the images. Like us on Facebook, find us at Grove History

1. Journeys:
BETWEEN RIVER AND SEA
Introduction
The Beach The River School Days Daily Life Transport Industry
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2. Many people have called the Western
Suburbs home. Some were just passing
through, some starting their new life here in
Australia, others settled and never left. This
display celebrates the journeys of those
people and highlights their struggles and
experiences starting their new life between
river and sea.
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3. The Beach
Cottesloe Beach has long been synonymous
with good health and well-being. In the early
part of the 20th Century the beach was
popular with families who would eagerly
congregate after a busy day at work to relax
and enjoy quality time with their family and
enjoy a meal in the open air. The beach was
also popular with city dwellers who craved a
weekend retreat away from the hustle and
bustle of city life. In those early years,
Cottesloe must have seemed a million miles
away, at the end of an arduous journey.
Numerous hotels and guest houses catered
for the demand for accommodation close to
the ocean and tea houses, a jetty and beach
entertainment provided a thriving trade for
local entrepreneurs. Although beach huts
and entertainment stalls no longer adorn the
white sands of Cottesloe, the area has become
one of the most popular beachside locations
in Perth.
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4. The River
Peppermint Grove and Mosman park enjoy an
enviable location nestled between the Swan
River and the sparkling Indian Ocean.
For many, during the early years, the river was
the 'life blood' of the community, providing an
array of leisure activities together with a
plentiful source of nourishing seafood and a
livelihood for local fishermen. Boating,
crabbing, fishing, swimming, sailing, picnicking
and diving have all been enjoyed over the years
with several boating clubs taking residence
along the shoreline north and south of the
Freshwater and Mosman Bay. Summer months
would bring crowds to the area. Many children
remember being sent, after school, to claim a
prized spot in readiness for the sumptuous
riverside feast lovingly prepared by mother .
Boy Scouts frequented the area and boasted
headquarters high on the hilltop overlooking
Mosman Bay. Campfires and ghost stories
precluded a peaceful night under the stars.
Although life has become much more
sophisticated, few can deny the simple
pleasures provided by a day spent at the river.
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5. School Days
Barefoot and carefree, this is how
many children remember their
childhood in the Western Suburbs.
But some have mixed emotions
when recalling their time in public
education.
School was strict with little tolerance
for mischief and disobedience.
Punishment was harsh. The snap of
the cane or the ruler would freeze
children in their tracks but was most
effective in correcting wayward
offenders.
Writing, reading and arithmetic, then
with the ring of the school bell,
children spill out of school, released
from the constraints of the
classroom. Running through the
bush, fishing, swimming and
crabbing then home for supper with
the family.
Days were long and years seemed
like a lifetime...
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6. Daily Life
In the early days of corner shops and small
private retailers, the atmosphere in the
Western Suburbs was familiar and friendly.
The shopkeepers knew and supported each
other, borrowing stock where necessary and
delivering goods to your door. Often letting
themselves into homes through the backdoor
to deposit goods and collect their fee which
had trustingly been left on the kitchen table.
Milk was delivered to your door in glass
bottles with thick cream sitting snuggly in
the neck of the bottle, with children eagerly
racing to spoon it off the top. Groceries,
wood and ice were delivered by horse and
cart.
Washing, cooking and cleaning was
’women’s work’. Without washing machines,
electric ovens and piped gas and water, it
was a full time job. Children were expected
to help out with chores before and after
school, but families were close and enjoyed
quality time with each other and with their
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7. Transport
Following the settlement of the Swan River
Colony in 1829, the Swan River was the main
transportation link between Perth and the port of
Fremantle. For many year, barges and
commercial crafts would ferry cargo and
passengers between the two towns. Land
transport was difficult and involved negotiating
bush tracks on horseback or foot.
By the 1860s, public complaints regarding the
road to Perth, led to the Perth-Fremantle road
realignment, along much the same route as the
Stirling Highway today. The State applied for
Convict labour to construct the road and the
bridge over the Swan River at North Fremantle.
Subsequently, there was a considerable increase
in traffic on the road, which was declared a
public highway in 1872 . Horse and carts were
replaced by motor cars, trams and buses, and
Stirling Highway has become a busy commute to
the city.
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8. Industry
During the early part of the 20th century,
industry played an important role within the
community. Workers were drawn to the area
by the abundance of work afforded by the
numerous quarries and factories which were
established in Mosman Park and Fremantle.
Working conditions were not always
favourable, with little tolerance for
downtime. Workers at General Motors
Holden, were docked pay for tea breaks and
even for equipment failure. Wages were low
and noise and heat were commonplace.
Employees would need to reapply for their
jobs if they took time off for holidays and
were even timed during toilet breaks! Times
were tough and the community pulled
together to help each other out.
Over the years the factories and workers’
cottages have been replaced by large
character homes and Mosman park is now
an affluent, coveted suburb.
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11. Home

12. References
The Beach
1. CPM02275 Cottesloe Jetty, c. 1920 with Bruce Gaston narrating about the Jetty.
2. CPM00644 Centenary Bathing Pavilion, c. 1930 with June Markham narrating about Palais de Danse.
3. CPM02100 Cottesloe Beach, c. 1940 with Bruce Gaston narrating about the Jetty.
The River
1. CPM01203 Mosman Bay, 1940 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about life by the river.
2. CPM01346 Cottesloe Beach Boy Scouts, 1936 with Alf Snell narrating about the Sea Scouts.
3. CPM00324 Children at Mosman Bay, c. 1936 with Ron Casserly narrating about community gatherings at the
river.
School Days
1. CPM00164 Tunnel Ball at Mosman Park State School, 1956 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about teachers at
Mosman Park school.
2. CPM000165 Folk dancing at Mosman Park State School, 1953 with Leslie Macarrey narrating about playing after
school at the river.
3. CPM00156 Mosman Park State School, 1950 with Ron Anderson narrating about school punishments.
4. CPM01368 Cottesloe Beach Boy Scouts, 1935 with Rube Gabrielson narrating about swimming lessons at the river.
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13. References
Daily Life
1. CPM00446 Maurice Flynn Produce Merchant, c. 1900 with Audrey James narrating about food deliveries.
2. CPM01780 Milk bottles from Birkbeck’s Dairy in Cottesloe, 1950s
3. CPM01849 George Birkbeck, c. 1918 with Joy Hinchcliffe and Glenys Morrison narrating about Birkbeck dairy.
4. CPM 00618 Basham family on Cottesloe Beach, 1927 with Brian Heller narrating about Saturday night ice-creams.
Transport
1. CPM02380 Stirling Highway looking south from the corner of Napier Street, Cottesloe, c .1940 with Fleur Arrow
narrating about Trolley Buses.
2. CPM00684 A bridal party at Osborne Hotel, 1895
3. CPM01208 Repairing the Perth-Fremantle Road, 1914 with Brian Heller narrating about Stirling Highway.
Industry
1. CPM 1497 The last Holden assembled in GMH's Mosman Park assembly factory, 1972 with Brian Bridge narrating about
conditions at the Gold Plant.
2. CPM01293 C.S.B.P and Farmers Limited (originally Mt. Lyell Chemical Works), 1960s with Margaret Baldwin narrating
about immigrant workers..
3. CPM01495 General Motors Holden pay slip, 1968 with Ronald Jess narrating about working conditions at GMH
Factory..
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